Means for closing jars.



No. 704,873. Patented July l5, I902.

a. H. Fux. nuns FOR CLOSING JARS.

(Application filed Nov. 15, 1901.

(No Model.)

Attorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. FOX, OF BANGOR, MAINE.

MEANS l-ORCLOSING JARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 7Q4,873, dated July 15,1902. Application filedNovemher 16,1901. saint. 82.541. on modeLl T0 (0whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. FOX, 21. citi ing Jars, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to means for closing ice-cream and other jars,and it is especially adapted to an ice-cream jar provided with aninternal discharging disk or plunger and having an opening in its bottomfor the introduction of a plunger-rod to operate theplunger, as shown inmy Patent No. 619,554.

The invention comprises a bail which will serve as means for carryingthe jar and also as a locking device for both the top and bottomclosures thereof. a

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings rep.- resents a side elevation ofa jar having top and bottom openings provided with my improved closingmeans, a portion of the jar being broken out to show the bottom closure.Fig. 2 represents a vertical section thereof on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig.3 represents a plan view of the cover for the top of the jar, showingthe means for holding it in closed position. Fig. 4 represents a planview of the bottolnof the jar, showing the bottom closure and the meansfor holding it firmly in position. Fig. 5 represents a horizontalsection on line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 represents'a perspective view ofthe device for holding the closures in position.

The same reference-numbers indicate corresponding parts in allthefigures.

The jar 10, which is preferably composed of glass, may be round, square,corrugated, heart-shaped,diamond-shaped,or tray-shaped in cross-section,or any other suitable form adapted for packing icecream or othermaterial which is to be forced outby means of pressure from one end. Thejar is provided with openings at both ends, preferably a larger openingat'the 'top for filling and discharge and a smaller opening at thebottom for the insertion of a plunger-rod to efiect the discharge. Theupper end or top is adapted to be closed by a suitable cover 20, and thebottom opening 11 is closed by a plug or stopper 12, preferably made ofrub- .the notches 23 and 24 and 16 and 17.

her, which is inserted from the outside. The

cover 20 is provided on its exterior with vertical lugs or ears 21 and22, preferably made integral therewith. These lugs are provided withnotches 23 and 24, which are adapted to receive a locking-bail,hereinafter to be de scribed.

The bottom of the jar is preferably provided with a verticalcircumferential flange 15, which serves as a support therefor. Thisflange 15 is provided at diametrically opposite points with notches l6and 17 for receiving the bail above referred to.

A disk 30, constituting afalse bottom, is disposed in the jar 10 andserves as a plunger for removing the contents of the jar by means of. arod insertedthrough the aperture 11.

A bail 40, preferably composed of wire and made in one piece, is adaptedto extend longitudinally around the jar'lO and to rest in This bail 40is preferably constructed to form a complete circuit and is preferablyprovided at one end over the top of the jar 10 with a loop 41, adaptedto serve as a handle, and at its opposite end with a stopper 12, whichis independent of the circuit formed by the bail and serves as a closurefor the opening in the bottom of the jar. The ends of the bail areprovided with loops or eyes'42 and 43, which are to be hooked together,preferably at the bottom of the jar, to form a continuous bail. The bail40 is alsoprovided at its opposite sides between the handle 41 and theloops 42 and 43 with springs 44 and 45. These springs give elasticity tothe bail and enable it to be drawn easily over the cover 20 and to beremoved therefrom when desired, and they also hold it securely inadjusted position.

The stopper 12 is preferably provided with an eye 13, through which thebail 40 passes. By attaching the stopper to the bail it is held firmlyin the aperture 11 against accidental displacementwhen the jar isclosed, and when it is desiredto remove the stopper the attached bailmay be used as a pulling device to withdraw it. This attachment alsoavoids the liability of the stopper being mislaid or lost. The notchedprojection or flange 15 extends beyond the plane of the stopper l2 andserves to elevate the bottom of the jar above the lower end of saidstopper and the locking device to which it is connected and to hold thelocking device in position on the jar.

In the use of this jar the disk 30 is placed in the bottom thereof, thestopper 12 inserted in the aperture 11, and the jar filled with icecreamor other desired material. The top is then placed on the jarand the bail40 drawn up over the top and disposed in the notches 23 and 24 and 16and 17. The jar is thus tightly closed and ready for delivery to acustomer. When it is desired to remove the contents from the jar, thebail is removed, the stopper 12 Withdrawn, and the top 20 taken off. Anysuitable rod is then inserted through the aperture 11 against the diskand the contents of the jar pushed out through the top or mouth thereof.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination of a jar provided withopenings at both ends, closures forsaid openings, and a locking deviceattached to and serving as a carrier for one of said closures andadapted to engage the other closure; said jar having a vertical notchedflange which extends beyond the plane of the attached closure and servesto protect the latter and to hold the locking device in position on thejar.

2. The combination of a jar provided with openings at both ends,closures for said openings, and a locking device attached to and servingas a carrier for the bottom closure and adapted to engage the topclosure; said jar having a vertical notched flange Which extends beyondthe plane of the attached closure and serves to protect the latter andto hold the locking device in position on the jar.

The combination of a jar provided with openings at both ends, closuresfor said openings, and an elastic locking device attached to and servingas a carrier for one of said closures and adapted to engage the otherclosure; said jar having a vertical notched flange which extends beyondthe plane of the attached closure and serves to protect the latter andto hold the locking device in position on the jar.

4. The combination of a jar provided with openings at both ends and witha flange at one end having notches,closures for said openings, and acontinuous bail engaging said notches and extending around said jar andover both closures, the lower closure being attached to said bail andcarried thereby.

5. The combination of a jar provided with a top opening and with abottom having a small opening, said jar being provided at its bottomwith a downwardly-extending notched flange, a notched cover for said topopening, a stopper for the small bottom opening, the outer end of saidstopper being above the plane of said flange, and a continuous bail forsecuring said cover andstopper extending around said jar and engagingsaid stopper and the notches of said flange and cover.

6. The combination of a jar provided with openings at both ends andhaving a downwardlyextending peripheral flange at the bottom thereof,said flange having oppositelydisposed notches therein, closures for saidopenings, and a bail attached to the bottom closure and adapted toextend over the top closure, said bail fitting in said notches.

7. A bail forming a complete circuit and adapted to extend around a jar,said bail having a handle at one end, a stopper independent of thecircuit attached to the other end and spring-loops formed in said bailbetween said stopper and handle, whereby the bail is clamped around thejar.

8. A bail forming a complete circuit in one continuous piece and adaptedto surround a jar, said bail having a loop in one end thereof adapted toserve as a handle, and having its terminal ends fastened together andprovided with a stopper independent of the circuit.

9. A bail forming a complete circuit adapted to surround a jar, saidbail having a loophandle formed in one end, a stopper attached to theother end independent of said circuit and springs formed in said bail atopposite sides between said handle and stopper.

GEORGE H. FOX.

- \Vitnesses:

GEo. W. E. BARRoWs, WALTER A. DANFORTH.

